Cyclone Titli batters Odisha, Andhra Pradesh; rivers in spate, floods likely

A day after Cyclone Titli battered Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, it left behind a trail of destruction, the state is gearing up to restore power supply and road links amid concerns over a possible flood situation.

At least 12 people were killed on Thursday, October 11, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh officials said, as Cyclone Titli made a landfall early on Thursday morning.

The cyclone has "weakened into a deep depression", triggering incessant rainfall in the state, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi said.

Major rivers, especially the ones in south Odisha, are in spate and stretches of low-lying areas inundated by rain water, he said.

In Odisha, around 3 lakh people were evacuated from the vulnerable areas of five coastal districts, a day before the cyclone made a landfall.

"We have been moving people to safe places at Chikiti, Dharakote, Patrapur and Sanakhemundi blocks of Ganjam district as river Rushikulya is in spate. Over 1,000 people were also shifted to relief camps in Gunupur area due to rise in water level in river Vansadhara," Sethi said. In urban areas, civic authorities are working overtime to clear water-logging.

The situation is grim in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and Balasore districts as several rivers, including Rushikylya, Vansadhara and Jalaka, have started swelling due to the incessant rain and are all flowing above the danger levels, the SRC said.

The water level of Vansadhara river has touched 84.35m and 56.30m at Gunupur and Kashinagar respectively, crossing the danger mark of 84m and 54.6m.

Similarly, the water level of river Rushikulya has crossed the mark of 16.83m and touched 18.60 metre at Purushottampur in Ganjam.

River Jalaka continues to flow six metres above the danger level due to the incessant rain.

"The administration is prepared to deal with emergency situations," the SRC said, adding that action was being taken to restore electricity and clear roads blocked by uprooted trees and electric poles.

The low-lying areas in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and the pilgrim town of Puri, too, remained waterlogged due to rain.

"A large number of pumps have been engaged by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to clear waterlogging," a civic body official said.

The road connectivity on Lathipada-Shergad road in Ganjam has been disrupted, while a bridge on Badagada Jarau River washed away following the heavy rainfall, official sources said. Rail traffic was also badly affected as a tree fell on the tracks between Ambadala and Dahikhala in Rayagada district. Three long-distance trains – Santragachi-Chennai Express, Gandhidham Express and Tirupati-Bilaspur Express – were halted at different stations of Rayagada.

Similarly, the swelling Mahendratanaya river has submerged vast stretches of Gajapati district, cutting of road communication between Andhra Pradesh and Paralakhemundi in Odisha, they added.

Director of the meteorological centre at Bhubaneswar, HR Biswas, said heavy to very heavy rainfall will continue to pound parts of the state, including Balasore, Bhadrak and Dhenkanal districts, till Saturday. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea in view of adverse weather conditions, he added.

“As of now, the cyclone was lying at a distance of 30 km northeast of Kandhamal and closer to Angul. It is expected the system would move away from the State by evening,” said Bishnupada Sethi, Special Relief Commissioner of the State. Under the impact of the cyclone, coastal and interior Odisha would receive heavy rainfall during next 24 hours, Mr. Sethi added.

The government is yet to confirm reports of at least seven deaths and close to 15,000 people — including over 13,000 in Gajapati district — were shifted to relief camps. Rescue operations were launched to save people stranded in areas cut-off by swirling floodwater.

Bridges and culverts were washed away in many areas. The State government is carrying out restoration work on war-footing with help of 26 units of National Disaster Response Force and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Forces. Many remote pockets especially in Gajapati, Rayagada, Balasore, Kandhamal and Ganjam districts could not be accessed.

As many as 10 fire service units have been rushed to Ganjam district where flood situation is said to be critical.

Seventy eight out 314 blocks of the State received over 100 mm rainfall. The highest (351 mm) rainfall was recorded in G Udaygiri of Kandhamal district during the 24 hours, ending at 8am on Friday, October 12. It was followed by Kantapada of Cuttack district where the precipitation was measured at 319 mm.

Landslides were reported in Cuttack and Mayurbhanj district. Three members of a family from Hatamala village in Athagarh block of Cuttack district were rescued from beneath the soil.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, is scheduled to take up an aerial survey on Friday, October 12, in an attempt to take stock of the cyclone-affected areas. He is camping at Srikakulam. He announced an ex-gratia to the families of eight people, who died during the cyclone on Thursday, October 11.

People had a difficult time in Aska town in Ganjam district. “In the morning 7 to 8-foot high water was flowing through the town. People were forced to take shelter on rooftops. Inmates of Aska jail were shifted to first floor as main gate of the prison was damaged by the water,” said Bishnupada Sethi.

The regional Met department has issued thunderstorm and lightning alert for Khurda, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Kandhamal, Sundergarh and Deogarh districts in Odisha.

(with inputs from agencies)